[Fantastic Fest '12] Shorts Program Announced!

Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S., is pleased to announce its 2012 shorts lineup. Fantastic Fest loves its short films – they provide a fertile ground for new and exciting filmmaking talent to show off their genre goods in an unrestrained format.

Fantastic Fest will take place September 20-27 in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. See below for the shorts lineup of films at this year’s festival. While it doesn’t appear that any stills have been released, the synopses below indicate that there’s a TON of horror playing.

38-39°C (2011)
Regional Premiere
Director: Jason Hong, South Korea, 8 minutes
A father and son confront the emotional divide that separates them in the intimate setting of a Korean bathhouse.

88:88 (2012)
Regional Premiere
Director: Joey Ciccoline, USA, 14 minutes
Val has lost control of her life. Those around her deny the reality of the extraordinary experiences she feels powerless against. Realizing she must stand alone, she has only one remaining option – to find a way to fight back.

ADVANTAGEOUS (2012)
Regional Premiere
Director: Jennifer Phang, USA 23 minutes
Gwen is the spokesperson for a radical technology allowing people to overcome their natural disadvantages. But when her job and family are in crisis, will she undergo the procedure herself?

AT THE FORMAL (2012)
Austin Premiere
Director: Andrew Kavanagh, Australia, 8 minutes
Modern and ancient rituals collide in this macabre depiction of a high school formal.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER MUTANT CHICKENS (2011)
Austin Premiere
Director: Nayeem Mahbub, Bangladesh, 15 minutes
In the near future, Bangladesh is terrorized by killer mutant chickens. A team of kung-fu fighting chefs must hunt the killer chickens in order to keep chicken on their menu.

BENDITO MACHINE IV (2012)
North American Premiere
Director: Jossie Malis, Spain, 10 minutes
An improbable hero embarks on a crude journey by land, sea and air -throughout all the attractions of a planet turned into a massive petrochemical park… and beyond

BIO-COP (2012)
US Premiere
Director: Steven Kotanski, USA, 5 minutes
A new super drug is about to hit the streets of New York, and only one man can stop it: Bio-Cop. He’s crime’s worst enemy…and his own.

BOBBY YEAH (2011)
Texas Premiere
Director: Robert Morgan, UK, 23 minutes
Bobby Yeah is a petty thug who lightens his miserable existence by brawling and stealing stuff. One day, he steals the favourite pet of some very dangerous individuals, and finds himself in deep trouble. He really should learn, but he just can’t help it.

BRAINS? (2012)
North American Premiere
Director: Giles McNeill, New Zealand, 7 minutes
Four sociable Zombies enjoy a meal of delicious brains, but are confronted by terrifying, yet tasty-smelling humanity, which will change their un-dead existence forever.

THE CAPTURED BIRD (2012)
US Premiere
Director: Jovanka Vuckovic, Canada, 12 minutes
In this dark fable, a little girl is drawn to a mysterious mansion where she witnesses the birth of five horrifying apparitions.

CROWN (2012)
Austin Premiere
Director: AG Rojas, USA, 8 minutes
A gang of street kids turns an unassuming house into a haven for middle aged junkies hooked on a most bizarre narcotic. Doug, a habitual user, returns to experience a surreal high from which he may not return.

CRUSH THE SKULL (2012)
Austin Premiere
Director: Viet Nguyen, USA, 9 minutes
It’s too familiar of a scenario for a young couple who break down on a desolate road and an ominous stranger shows up out of nowhere to assist them.

FOLLOW THE SUN! (2012)
Texas Premiere
Director: Teddy Dibble, USA, 4 minutes
While we have a few minutes before the show, why not stop by our refreshment stand? We have all kinds of tasty treats — delicious pizza, ice-cold refreshments, fresh popcorn and Milk Bombs! Tempt your taste buds today with our selection of sweets and all-American beef products! Popcorn for all eternity! Hell’s on it’s way!

GAME (2012)
US Premiere
Director: Josh MacDonald, Canada, 8 minutes
Through the woods, a cat-and-mouse game unfolds between a businesswoman and her three monstrous pursuers.

GET REAL! (2010)
US Premiere
Director: Evert de Beijer, Netherlands, 12 minutes
A high school student is addicted to a computer game in which he portrays a bodyguard protecting a sexy female singer. He overcomes his obsession once a real girl in his class gives him his first kiss.

HELL CAT (2012)
Austin Premiere
Director: Ged Murray, Ireland, 10 minutes
Charlotte is obsessed with her talking cat Charlie’s Youtube hits. But when her new boyfriend tries to muscle in between her and her cat, all hell breaks loose.

LE LAC NOIR (2011)
US Premiere
Director: Victor Jaquier, Switzerland, 20 minutes
Madeleine and Jean are living on the shores of an alpine lake. One day, Jean catches a huge fish, and in the stomach he discovers a young boy that sets Madeleine’s memories in motion.

LEGEND (2012)
US Premiere
Director: Pau Teixidor, Spain, 15 minutes
Claudia, a ten-year-old girl, leaves with her family to spend the weekend out of town. During their car trip, they decide to take a short rest at an abandoned gas station. The appearance of a strange woman will reveal her true fate to Claudia.

LIGHT FRIDAY (2012)
North American Premiere
Director: Asier Abio, Spain, 10 minutes
Feliciano is eating french fries with light mayonnaise while watching TV. It’s a boring Friday night until he stumbles upon a racy channel.

MEAT STICK MAN (2012)
World Premiere
Director: Jared Bentley, USA, 3 minutes
A dark take on the “Snap in to a Slim Jim” ads. Meat Stick Man bursts into a young boy’s room to personally “feed” his hunger, only to find the boy needs some convincing.

MI BURRO! EP. 1 ESOS HUESOS (2012)
Austin Premiere
Director Zach Passero, USA, 8 minutes
Orphaned Niño loves Burro and would do anything for his friend. Burro, a retired Donkey loves that Niño would. Together they have banded together as a support system for one another as Niño and his parasitic friend navigate gonzo adventures in a Mexican seaside village.

MODERN FAMILY (2011)
Regional Premiere
Director: Kim Kwang-bin, South Korea, 18 minutes
Hyun-soo hears unexpected news when he receives a call from home during a meeting.

OUT OF ERASERS (2010)
Austin Premiere
Director: Erik Rosenlund, Sweden, 15 minutes
As the world transforms, you’re the last one to find out.

PAPERMAN (2012)
Austin Premiere
Director: John Kahrs, USA, 6 minutes
The crown jewel topping off the Drawn and Quartered program this year, PAPERMAN introduces a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques. First-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction using a minimalist black-and-white style. The short follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute.

THE QUIET GIRLS GUIDE TO VIOLENCE (2012)
World Premiere
Director: Rafael Antonio Ruiz, USA, 15 minutes
A victim of childhood bullying decides she will no longer suffer silently in this darkly comic story of revenge and Christmas.

THE RECIPE (2012)
US Premiere
Director: Jason Noto, Italy, 5 minutes
After a boy is confronted with death for the first time, he turns to his imagination for protection and understanding.

SÉANCE (2012)
Texas Premiere
Director: Zachary Beckler, USA, 15 minutes
Alice and Daniel are married and expecting their first child. They just bought nice little house for their new family. Unfortunately, the house appears to be haunted. They host a séance party to cast the spirit out. It awakens something…

SKINFECTIONS 2: BLACKHEAD (2009)
Regional Premiere
Director: Chris Nash, Canada, 14 minutes
A man with intimacy issues wakes up one morning to find an abnormally large blackhead growing in the middle of his back

SKINFECTIONS 3: LIPLOCK (2011)
US Premiere
Director: Chris Nash, Canada, 18 minutes
A lonely woman’s plan to hook up with her ex while her current boyfriend is away on business goes horribly wrong.

SLAGBRØDRE (2012)
Texas Premiere
Director: Kristoffer Jørgensen, Norway, 9 minutes
Northern Norway 1929: A man returns home after years of absence and receives a less than cordial welcome from his brother.

THE SLEEPOVER (2012)
World Premiere
Director: Chris Cullari, USA, 5 minutes
The town of Derry has a secret, but no one told the new kid. It’s gonna be a long night.

SPACEWRECKED (2012)
North American Premiere
Director: Kalle Doniselli Gulbrandsen, Norway, 14 minutes
After witnessing the total destruction of planet Earth 20 years earlier, two Norwegian astronauts must fight extreme boredom while living inside a cramped space station.

THE TEA PARTY (2012)
North American Premiere
Director: Cameron McCulloch, Australia, 12 minutes
Princess has waited a long time to finally meet her Prince Charming, the only thing standing in their way is her foul mouthed pets and the lack of a Afternoon Tea condiment.

THIS IS NOT REAL (2011)
Texas Premiere
Director: Gergely Wootsch, UK, 7 minutes
A young boy’s chimerical journey from a small town to the Himalayas with an all-defining conclusion.

TOO LATE (2012)
World Premiere
Director: Rani Naamani, USA, 2 minutes
On a dark and gloomy night, John finds himself struggling against time as he painfully morphs into something else…

TRAM (2012)
Texas Premiere
Director: Michaela Pavlatova, Czech Republic, 7 minutes
A coproduction of Sacrebleu Productions and Negativ Film ; the humdrum daily routine of a Tram conductress takes an interesting turn when she allows her imagination to wander

THE TRANSMISSION (2012)
Regional Premiere
Director: Brian Lonano, USA, 6 minutes
While a storm rages outside and Henry drinks his bottle of absinthe, he receives a television transmission…from his dead wife.

VIDEOBOY (2011)
US Premiere
Director: Stian Kristiansen, Norway, 33 minutes
The relationship between 13 year old Hasse and Pål is tested the day they accept an offer to visit a boy who is famous for his collection of videofilms. The journey they take gets darker and darker, and the young boys are forced to meet boundaries that they never have been even close to. Nothing will ever be the same.

VIENNA WAITS FOR YOU (2012)
North American Premiere
Director: Dominik Hartl, Austria, 26 minutes
After breaking up with her boyfriend Daniel, Anna just wants to hole up somewhere and recover. But she should have had a closer look at the fine-print of her rental contract – for the old Viennese apartment is a creature with never ending appetite, living of the youth of its residents.